Saudi Activists in Exile Demand End to Travel Restrictions and Collective Punishment
A coalition of Saudi activists in exile has issued an urgent appeal for the immediate cessation of the travel restrictions unjustly placed upon their family members in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This call comes in direct response to the ongoing and systemic policy of collective punishment perpetrated by Saudi authorities.
The activists, including Lina Al-Hathloul, Abdullah Al-Awdah, Khaled Al-Jabri, Nasser Al-Qarni, and Fawz Al-Otaibi, have directed their plea towards the Saudi Human Rights Commission. They demand the revocation of the baseless travel bans inflicted upon their relatives, which have been imposed without any legitimate legal grounding.
For an extended period, Saudi authorities have wielded the policy of collective punishment as a mechanism of coercion and subjugation, aiming to instill fear and maintain an iron grip over the populace. This repressive strategy has led to a multitude of human rights violations against the families of those in exile, including but not limited to arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, torture, and the imposition of travel restrictions, among other grave infringements.
A particularly poignant example of this oppressive regime’s tactics is the case of the esteemed cleric Salman al-Awdah, imprisoned since 2017. His family, along with 19 members, including a one-year-old infant, has faced relentless persecution, enduring travel bans since his arrest, all executed without due process or any semblance of judicial fairness.
In light of these severe injustices, Together for Justice not only stands in solidarity with those affected but also vehemently implores the international community to exert considerable pressure on the Saudi authorities. The aim is to alleviate the profound suffering endured by the families of political dissidents and to decisively terminate the policy of collective punishment that has been so ruthlessly employed against the kin of political prisoners and activists, both within the nation and in the broader diaspora.
The time for change is now. The international community must not remain passive but should acti
A coalition of Saudi activists in exile has issued an urgent appeal for the immediate cessation of the travel restrictions unjustly placed upon their family members in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This call comes in direct response to the ongoing and systemic policy of collective punishment perpetrated by Saudi authorities.
The activists, including Lina Al-Hathloul, Abdullah Al-Awdah, Khaled Al-Jabri, Nasser Al-Qarni, and Fawz Al-Otaibi, have directed their plea towards the Saudi Human Rights Commission. They demand the revocation of the baseless travel bans inflicted upon their relatives, which have been imposed without any legitimate legal grounding.
For an extended period, Saudi authorities have wielded the policy of collective punishment as a mechanism of coercion and subjugation, aiming to instill fear and maintain an iron grip over the populace. This repressive strategy has led to a multitude of human rights violations against the families of those in exile, including but not limited to arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, torture, and the imposition of travel restrictions, among other grave infringements.
A particularly poignant example of this oppressive regime’s tactics is the case of the esteemed cleric Salman al-Awdah, imprisoned since 2017. His family, along with 19 members, including a one-year-old infant, has faced relentless persecution, enduring travel bans since his arrest, all executed without due process or any semblance of judicial fairness.
In light of these severe injustices, Together for Justice not only stands in solidarity with those affected but also vehemently implores the international community to exert considerable pressure on the Saudi authorities. The aim is to alleviate the profound suffering endured by the families of political dissidents and to decisively terminate the policy of collective punishment that has been so ruthlessly employed against the kin of political prisoners and activists, both within the nation and in the broader diaspora.
The time for change is now. The international community must not remain passive but should actively work to ensure that fundamental human rights and dignities are upheld within Saudi Arabia. It is imperative that these unjust practices are brought to an end, paving the way for a future where freedom and justice prevail.
vely work to ensure that fundamental human rights and dignities are upheld within Saudi Arabia. It is imperative that these unjust practices are brought to an end, paving the way for a future where freedom and justice prevail.
